Tour Description

Day One
Full day tour to Valletta, Hagar Qim, Marsaxlokk & Mdina
This tour covers three different periods of Malta's golden history in one day.

Our first visit during this tour is the capital, Valletta which was built by the Knights of St. John in 1566. Here we include the Barraka Gardens which offer stunning views of the Grand Harbour and magnificent fortifications, a walk down Triq Ir-Repubblika where you can admire numerous historical buildings built by the Knights of St. John including the Auberges, the Grand Masters Palace and St. John's Co. Cathedral, the church of the Order and also home to Caravaggio's masterpiece "Beheading of St. John" amongst other treasures.

After our tour of the capital we will then visit the south west of the island where the ancient Hagar Qim Temple site stands. Set in a rural area this ancient temple is particularly interesting as it has the largest and heaviest megaliths out of all the temple sites around the Maltese Islands, some slabs weighing a staggering 20 tons. This temple dates back to 3300BC.

We then continue to our next stop and an opportunity to experience a little local culture when visiting the pretty traditional fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Marsaxlokk is a quaint fishing village and is characterized by low lying buildings and the colorful traditional fishing boats known as the 'luzzu'. A small market lines the seafront and if you would like to sample fresh Mediterranean fish there are numerous local restaurants to choose from (other cuisine is available).

Our final stop during this tour will be in Mdina. Mdina is built on a plateau in the centre of the island, the city's old Baroque buildings, cathedral and magnificent bastion walls dominate the rural skyline. Mdina, once the capital of Malta until the modern city of Valletta was built, had many names including Melite(Roman occupation), Medina (Arabic occupation), Citta Notabile and Citta Vecchia (after Valletta was built). Today it is also referred to as the Silent City since it inspires tranquillity at any time of the day or night. The only way to really experience and enjoy this city is on foot, explore the quaint alleys, narrow streets, ancient buildings and magnificent far reaching views from the high bastion walls. Our tour at this point comes to an end and we head back.


Day Two
Full day tour to Gozo Island
We start our tour to Gozo with a pleasant 25 minute ferry crossing. The charm of Gozo is apparent the moment you arrive there. Greener, more rural and smaller than Malta. Our tour is a combination of scenic spots, historical sites, local culture and food.

We feature most of the main highlights during our tour. The first stop is at Ggantija temples, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered to be amongst the oldest free standing megalithic monuments in the world dating back over 5500 years. The adjoining visitor's centre boasts artefacts from the temple site and also from the Xaghra Circle (4100BC), studies of samples and results from which are still emerging.

A scenic drive will pass through quaint sleepy villages that characterise Gozo's unique charm. The drive also highlights the north coast. A brief stop at the Calypso Cave Belvedere, offers magnificent views over the red sands of Ramla Bay and the lush fertile valley which leads down to it. The drive takes us to Xwejni bay with its salt pans and the natural feature of Qolla l-Bajda.

We continue on to one of the most photographed sites on Gozo, Dwejra. This is a site of ecological and geological importance. The General's Rock and Inland Sea will be pointed out. One can take an optional boat trip out to the different caves (optional and operates weather permitting).

We proceed to Xlendi Bay for a lunch break. Xlendi is a very picturesque colourful bay, with a small sandy beach and restaurants lining the waterfront.

After lunch we will visit one of Gozo's most prominent sites, 'The Citadel', This small fortified town dominates the heights above Victoria, Gozo's capital. This site has been inhabited since the Bronze Age period. Walking through this historical gem one can admire the medieval layout with interesting features and some excellent examples of domestic medieval architecture, blending with buildings of the Knights of St John. Once at the top, a stunning panorama of the whole island and even Malta's northern coast enfolds.

At this stage our tour comes to an end and we make our way back to Malta.